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Recent rumors and gossip about NHLen-usBlues miss morning skate due to traffic in BrooklynIt’s safe to say the St. Louis Blues aren’t going to be big fans of the New York Islanders’ home in Brooklyn any time soon. Heading into a game against the Isles on Thursday night, the Blues missed their morning skate due to a “clogged commute” which prevented them from making it to the arena.
#stlblues have canceled their morning skate all together because of the clogged commute to Brooklyn. Any updates at 4:30 when Hitch speaks.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) December 8, 2016
There’s no telling where the Blues actually stayed, but they clearly weren’t prepared for what a commute to Brooklyn can consist of even under normal conditions.
Realistically, missing a morning skate isn’t a big deal (the GM of the Penguins thinks they should go away completely), but it is kind of funny seeing NHL athletes have to deal with the same struggles and frustrations of the common man.
Traffic sucks no matter what profession you’re in.08 Dec 2016 19:32:00 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/blues_miss_morning_skate_due_to_traffic_in_brooklyn/s1_10240_22651609
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/blues_miss_morning_skate_due_to_traffic_in_brooklyn/s1_10240_22651609Blues miss morning skate due to traffic in Brooklynhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/blues_miss_morning_skate_due_to_traffic_in_brooklyn/s1_10240_22651609http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/2/42e551fc07eec29cd64286d31fa9b8af028b3224/mini/AP_16342139601261.jpgDucks goalie had embarrassing reason for not playing in reliefGoaltending can be a crap job. Literally.
The Anaheim Ducks were blown out 8-3 by the Calgary Flames on Sunday night. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier was shown little mercy, letting in all eight goals on just 25 shots. The Ducks didn’t pull Bernier despite the poor effort. But why? Well, John Gibson, who was backing up Bernier, couldn’t come into action because he was battling diarrhea.
“We had to leave Bernier in the net because Gibson had diarrhea and had the flu all day,” Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle candidly admitted after the game, per Kristen Odland of Postmedia.
Carlyle would have pulled Bernier after four goals, but Gibson’s poor body had other ideas.
Thankfully for the Ducks, Gibson dealt with his issues during a regular-season game, unlike when, infamously, Roberto Luongo pulled himself in overtime from Game 5 of the Western Conference Final to attend to his own crappy issues. Anaheim ended up beating the Canucks 2-1 and going to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, w...05 Dec 2016 16:26:17 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/john_gibson_had_an_embarrassing_reason_for_being_unable_to_back_jonathan_bernier_in_8_3_loss/s1_10240_22617001
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/john_gibson_had_an_embarrassing_reason_for_being_unable_to_back_jonathan_bernier_in_8_3_loss/s1_10240_22617001Ducks goalie had embarrassing reason for not playing in reliefhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/john_gibson_had_an_embarrassing_reason_for_being_unable_to_back_jonathan_bernier_in_8_3_loss/s1_10240_22617001http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/4/6457ef7c4ba080701f74bb7a88785090b0bb2272/mini/9716596.jpgPaul Maurice: Game plans won’t work trying to stop McDavidAt 19, Connor McDavid is already one of the best players in the NHL. With an unfair combination of speed and skill, the Edmonton captain leads the league with 31 points in just 24 games. McDavid has singlehandedly kept the Oilers from mediocrity.
The coach of the Winnipeg Jets recognizes the young star’s talent.
Speaking with Jets TV, Paul Maurice admitted there’s no way to successfully game plan for McDavid.
“Everybody’s had a game plan for this young man. It’s not working. It’s not going to work for the rest of his career,” Maurice told reporters Thursday, per Jets TV.
Maurice said there’s nobody with the same ability as McDavid in the entire league.
“Maybe there’s somebody faster, I can’t remember. Maybe there’s somebody just as fast. But I don’t think there’s ever been a set of hands that went with that speed. That’s a different animal.”
There’s nothing hyperbolic about Maurice’s praise for McDavid. He’s the NHL’s top talent, and he’s nowhere close 02 Dec 2016 16:33:37 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/paul_maurice_game_plans_wont_work_when_trying_to_stop_mcdavid/s1_10240_22589221
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/paul_maurice_game_plans_wont_work_when_trying_to_stop_mcdavid/s1_10240_22589221Paul Maurice: Game plans won’t work trying to stop McDavidhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/paul_maurice_game_plans_wont_work_when_trying_to_stop_mcdavid/s1_10240_22589221http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/2/02ac6ae2f58d112eaab106b20628cff3a652d778/mini/AP_16329209239702.jpgIslanders tie NHL record with two goals in three secondsThe New York Islanders put on a goal show Wednesday night. Let’s hope those who were watching didn’t blink.
The Islanders entered the NHL record books by scoring back-to-back goals in their 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Anders Lee deflected a shot past goaltender Matt Murray with 26 seconds remaining in the third period to give New York a 4-3 lead. Pittsburgh then pulled Murray, and Nikolay Kulemin quickly scored into the empty net with 23 seconds left in the game.
The two goals matched the NHL record for the fasted two goals in league history. The St. Louis Eagles and Minnesota Wild now have more company.01 Dec 2016 14:08:39 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/watch_islanders_score_two_goals_in_three_seconds_tie_nhl_speed_record/s1_8626_22577503
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/watch_islanders_score_two_goals_in_three_seconds_tie_nhl_speed_record/s1_8626_22577503Islanders tie NHL record with two goals in three secondshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/watch_islanders_score_two_goals_in_three_seconds_tie_nhl_speed_record/s1_8626_22577503http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/8/e867b25aa394dcea92fbcb38d7d6faa5da26c356/mini/9715114.jpgLeafs coach Mike Babcock compares Connor McDavid's speed to Bobby OrrEdmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid might already be one of the top three players in the NHL and he hasn’t even played a full season’s worth of games yet.
He leads the league with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 23 games entering Tuesday’s action, when he’ll take on his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, who also coaches Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team, is a huge fan of McDavid, and he even compared some of his talent to a player many people consider the best ever.
“(Ryan) Nugent-Hopkins is a real good player. (Leon) Draisaitl is a real good player, but McDavid looks like he’s different than everybody else,” Babcock told the media Tuesday morning, per Sportsnet.
“The last time I saw a guy go faster than the whole league was Bobby Orr, and I was nine years old. This guy’s faster than the whole league. It’s incredible to watch. It’s got to be an exciting time in (Edmonton).”
McDavid’s speed really is a29 Nov 2016 17:57:07 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/leafs_coach_mike_babcock_compares_connor_mcdavids_speed_to_bobby_orr/s1_8626_22559425
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/leafs_coach_mike_babcock_compares_connor_mcdavids_speed_to_bobby_orr/s1_8626_22559425Leafs coach Mike Babcock compares Connor McDavid's speed to Bobby Orrhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/leafs_coach_mike_babcock_compares_connor_mcdavids_speed_to_bobby_orr/s1_8626_22559425http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/3/f3d1713ae95551488c9b08c8675163310a76d30f/mini/9703692.jpgArmy officials to review NHL Vegas franchise's nameIf you think the Vegas Golden Knights name controversy was already behind you, think again. It looks like some Army officials are looking into the use of the NHL’s newly minted expansion team. Over what you may ask? The Army’s parachute team.
Alison Bettencourt, a spokeswoman for the Army Marketing and Research Group in Arlington, Va., had this to say about the choice of moniker.
“The U.S. Army Parachute Team, which is based at Fort Bragg, has used the Golden Knights name since the 1960s.”
Bettencourt said they found out about the name’s usage on Wednesday via social media accounts.
“We’re reviewing the situation and figuring out what the way ahead would be,” said Bettencourt.
Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, had expressed interest in the past to calling his team the Black Knights in honor of his alma mater, but when he found out that it wouldn’t be possible, he set his sights elsewhere.
Foley acknowledged the fact that the name is shared with the par...29 Nov 2016 13:29:27 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/army_officials_to_review_vegas_team_name_due_to_copying_golden_knights/s1_10240_22555042
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/army_officials_to_review_vegas_team_name_due_to_copying_golden_knights/s1_10240_22555042Army officials to review NHL Vegas franchise's namehttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/army_officials_to_review_vegas_team_name_due_to_copying_golden_knights/s1_10240_22555042http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/f/ef48b7b211d1f9205290524fda8342171b2b8e60/mini/GettyImages-625199334.jpgRyan Dzingel’s ear had to be reconstructed after taking a shot to the headRyan Dzingel needed reconstructive surgery for his ear after taking a shot from Erik Karlsson to the head during the Ottawa Senators’ game on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Dzingel was initially stitched up and returned to the game, but he needed additional treatment following the game.
Below was the frightening incident:
After the game, it was revealed that Dzingel had multiple lacerations and that his ear had to be reconstructed.
Boucher says Dzingel suffered "multiple lacerations" and ear had to be reconstructed. "It wasn't pretty." Lauds toughness of hockey players.
— Wayne Scanlan (@HockeyScanner) November 25, 2016
Hockey fans will once again rally around the fact that hockey players are as tough as any athlete in sports, but this really is a testament to that fact. Dzingel finished out the game with an ear which needed reconstructive surgery. That’s just crazy.25 Nov 2016 13:07:36 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/ryan_dzingels_ear_had_to_be_reconstructed_after_taking_a_shot_to_the_head/s1_10240_22520638
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/ryan_dzingels_ear_had_to_be_reconstructed_after_taking_a_shot_to_the_head/s1_10240_22520638Ryan Dzingel’s ear had to be reconstructed after taking a shot to the headhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/ryan_dzingels_ear_had_to_be_reconstructed_after_taking_a_shot_to_the_head/s1_10240_22520638http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e9e03130d4f04fc261a647882ad459179da58a13/mini/9646698.jpgWATCH: Thomas Vanek goes 'around the world' in shootoutIt didn’t look like much, but Thomas Vanek pulled off one of the more unique shootout moves seen in the NHL this season. As Vanek skated in on Sabres netminder Robin Lehner, he casually controlled the puck before going “around the world” with his stick, which seemed to completely fool Lehner.
Sometimes it’s the more subtle moves that prove to be the most effective.24 Nov 2016 11:32:11 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/video_thomas_vanek_goes_around_the_world_to_score_a_shootout_goal/s1_10240_22514140
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/video_thomas_vanek_goes_around_the_world_to_score_a_shootout_goal/s1_10240_22514140WATCH: Thomas Vanek goes 'around the world' in shootouthttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/video_thomas_vanek_goes_around_the_world_to_score_a_shootout_goal/s1_10240_22514140http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/c/fc40f6e9d5fbb9355450fda48f27535f6c8c26ce/mini/9604252.jpgNHL unveils newest team: the Vegas Golden KnightsThe Las Vegas NHL team unveiled the expansion team’s name and logo and after much speculation, the team went with "Vegas Golden Knights."
In a ceremony featuring multiple video fails, the 2017-18 expansion team finally revealed what they’ll be called and what logo the team will wear. And honestly, the look and name could be much worse. The Golden Knights isn’t a great name, but it’s better than the “Thrashers” or the “Predators.”
What is a Golden Knight? Here’s owner Bill Foley’s explanation on the team name per NHL.com:
OFFICIAL: We are now YOUR Vegas Golden Knights. #BoldInGold https://t.co/6m5bthPyIY
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 23, 2016
The secondary logo is more or less what you’d expect. It’s not as cool as the primary, but two crossing swords is quite badass.
The primary and secondary logos of the Vegas Golden Knights. pic.twitter.com/oUVx8s6LKa
— Tyler Bischoff (@Bischoff_Tyler) November 23, 2016
Lastly, here’s the club’22 Nov 2016 22:06:45 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/the_nhls_latest_expansion_team_is_named_the_vegas_golden_knights/s1_13156_22500034
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/the_nhls_latest_expansion_team_is_named_the_vegas_golden_knights/s1_13156_22500034NHL unveils newest team: the Vegas Golden Knightshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/the_nhls_latest_expansion_team_is_named_the_vegas_golden_knights/s1_13156_22500034http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/4/e42c6d54731f82815330ad6de5350fca2741a87d/mini/vegas.jpgSharks sign Brent Burns to an eight-year, $64 million contractBrent Burns is a very rich man.
The San Jose Sharks signed their No. 1 defenseman to an eight-year contract on Tuesday, the team announced. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the deal is worth $8 million per season and $64 million in total.
The deal goes into effect next season and will give Burns the second-highest salary cap hit among defensemen.
Burns is one of the best defensemen in the league and finished second among blue liners in scoring last season with 75 points. He has tallied 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 19 games this season.
The concern with this contract is his age. An $8 million average annual salary is a steep price tag for a 31-year-old player. This could be a salary cap-burdening deal for the Sharks if Burns’ game drops off significantly.
22 Nov 2016 17:18:20 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/sharks_sign_brent_burns_to_reported_eight_year_64_million_contract/s1_8626_22497601
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/sharks_sign_brent_burns_to_reported_eight_year_64_million_contract/s1_8626_22497601Sharks sign Brent Burns to an eight-year, $64 million contracthttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/sharks_sign_brent_burns_to_reported_eight_year_64_million_contract/s1_8626_22497601http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/05816267e31d33f30f07bcc919ae00c632e6e18d/mini/9685518.jpgNHL unveils new All-Star Game voting to exclude future John ScottsEarlier this month, it was reported the NHL was looking to ensure another "John Scott to the All-Star Game situation" wouldn’t happen. Now, new rules have been put into place that disqualifies players of Scott’s caliber from attending the game.
Here’s a summary of the new rules (per Sportsnet)
• The 2017 NHL all-star fan vote will allow fans to vote for one all-star player from each Division, without regard to position. The top vote-getter from each division will be named an NHL all-star, as well as captain of his respective team.
• Eligible players must be on an NHL club’s active roster as of Nov. 1. Any player not on the active roster on that date due to injury or special circumstances can be added to the ballot if / when he returns to the NHL club’s active roster.
• If a player is assigned / loaned to the American Hockey League or any other minor league team between Nov. 1 and 5 p.m. on Jan. 26, the player is not eligible in all-star balloting. However, if the minor league ...21 Nov 2016 16:57:09 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nhl_officially_unveils_new_all_star_game_voting_to_exclude_future_john_scotts/s1_10240_22487377
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nhl_officially_unveils_new_all_star_game_voting_to_exclude_future_john_scotts/s1_10240_22487377NHL unveils new All-Star Game voting to exclude future John Scottshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nhl_officially_unveils_new_all_star_game_voting_to_exclude_future_john_scotts/s1_10240_22487377http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/1/f1f554d0ed3d8e3c36b79d30cf950eda813c3582/mini/AP_16326691090493.jpgCan the Lightning withstand a lengthy Stamkos absence?To start off with the obvious, it sucks for the Lightning to lose Steven Stamkos. There’s no doubt it hurts them. By any measure, he’s one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Since entering the NHL, he’s been second only to Alex Ovechkin in terms of scoring rate. Despite prior injuries, he reached 300 goals at the age of 25 in a scoring-deprived era. He’s very good.
Replacing a player this talented isn’t easy, but the team hasn’t exactly folded when he’s missed time in the past. A less talented, younger Lightning team went 22-18-5 in 2013-14 when he missed 45 games with a broken leg. Last year’s team won playoff series over Detroit and the Islanders in five games each before falling to the eventual-champion Penguins while Stamkos sat out 21 games with a blood clot.
The issue this season is the team hasn’t set the world on fire even with Stamkos. The former first overall pick has nine goals and 20 points in 17 games, but the team has just 21 points. That’s not bad, but they haven’t18 Nov 2016 18:44:08 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/can_the_lightning_withstand_a_lengthy_stamkos_absence/s1_10240_22457194
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/can_the_lightning_withstand_a_lengthy_stamkos_absence/s1_10240_22457194Can the Lightning withstand a lengthy Stamkos absence?http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/can_the_lightning_withstand_a_lengthy_stamkos_absence/s1_10240_22457194http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/0595635219e5dafc379b2ffd4c79a58f3e8964b1/mini/9604133.jpgCarolina Hurricanes’ Bryan Bickell diagnosed with MSThe Carolina Hurricanes announced today that forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“First and foremost, the most important thing is for Bryan to take care of himself and our thoughts are with him and his family,” said Hurricanes Executive Vice President Ron Francis in a released statement Friday afternoon. “He will need to take some time to rest in the immediate future, and we will support him as he takes the necessary steps for his health. We ask that his privacy be respected during the process.”
For now, Bickell still plans to continue his hockey-playing career, and it most certainly appears the Hurricanes are going to be there to help him every step of the way. This is obviously great to see, because this is quite a shocking development and leaves some uncertainty about the future for Bickell.
Bickell says he has been having concerns about his health since the summer of 2015, but it wasn’t until now he finally got some answers, as unfortunate as they may be.
“Si11 Nov 2016 17:50:13 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/carolina_hurricanes_bryan_bickell_diagnosed_with_multiple_sclerosis/s1_13156_22388920
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/carolina_hurricanes_bryan_bickell_diagnosed_with_multiple_sclerosis/s1_13156_22388920Carolina Hurricanes’ Bryan Bickell diagnosed with MShttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/carolina_hurricanes_bryan_bickell_diagnosed_with_multiple_sclerosis/s1_13156_22388920http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/b/4b09078de16cf1772713781fd2595a8a1a9d8935/mini/9590443.jpgNail Yakupov unhappy about getting benched by the BluesAfter seeing his ice time dwindle in recent weeks, Nail Yakupov now finds himself riding the pine.
After a hot start with the St. Louis Blues, Yakupov finds himself the odd man out, as coach Ken Hitchcock will bench him during Wednesday’s home game against Chicago. Yakupov’s play has trailed off as Hitchcock has given him limited opportunities, as the 22-year-old has seen 10+ minutes of ice time just twice in the last six games.
Yakupov expressed frustration at getting scratched.
“It’s not my decision I’m not playing,” Yakupov told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after Tuesday’s practice, his first words since being taken out of the lineup. “Obviously I couldn’t be happy about it. So, it’s a coach’s decision and nothing I can do about it.”
Hitchcock admitted Yakupov hasn’t been playing poorly but that he’s simply rolling with his current lines. He suggested Yakupov needs be ready for when he’s called into action.
“He doesn’t need to do anything,”08 Nov 2016 17:17:27 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nail_yakupov_unhappy_about_getting_benched_by_the_blues/s1_10240_22359994
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nail_yakupov_unhappy_about_getting_benched_by_the_blues/s1_10240_22359994Nail Yakupov unhappy about getting benched by the Blueshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nail_yakupov_unhappy_about_getting_benched_by_the_blues/s1_10240_22359994http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/0/6066b162c98793b7ddfb5b1b846db7d874a0073a/mini/9626309.jpgReport: NHL may restrict All-Star Game to only ‘bona fide players’The NHL may be working to ensure John Scott 2.0 never happens at the All-Star Game.
Remember when Scott, a marginal NHL talent who was bouncing off pro rosters, was elected by fan voting to represent the Pacific Division at the All-Star game? The NHL did all they could to prevent Scott from playing but the now-retired enforcer ended up making the trip to Nashville and starring in the weekend’s festivities. A troll job turned into the season’s best individual moment.
The NHL doesn’t want to see a repeat of fan voting, as Ken Campbell of the Hockey News reports the league is putting new parameters in place to define who can be elected into the game.
As was told to thn.com by a league source, “There will be parameters put around what it means to be an NHL player. The intent is to allow populist voting if that’s what the fans want to do, but players elected have to be bona fide NHLers.”
If new All-Star rules do come to fruition, who is and isn’t eligible may have a noticeable im...01 Nov 2016 18:21:15 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/report_nhl_may_restrict_all_star_game_to_only_bona_fide_players/s1_10240_22293634
http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/report_nhl_may_restrict_all_star_game_to_only_bona_fide_players/s1_10240_22293634Report: NHL may restrict All-Star Game to only ‘bona fide players’http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/report_nhl_may_restrict_all_star_game_to_only_bona_fide_players/s1_10240_22293634http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/c/6c989cf17e46097cb2f539558700eb2350619335/mini/GettyImages-507818974__1_.jpg